automatic "artistic" "creative" portrait

[Isaac]

"... the camera saves an additional, optimally-framed image of your subject. By combining the rule of thirds with advanced imaging technologies, Auto Portrait Framing mode is the easy way to a balanced, perfectly-composed portrait."


"An ordinary photo automatically becomes an artistic, creative portrait with ease!"

[louoates]

I'm waiting for a camera that would automatically delete any image it determines is ugly.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I'm waiting for a camera that would automatically delete any image it determines is ugly.

I had a camera once that I thought was doing just that. It was a Mamiya 6 RF (film) camera I got after many years with view cameras and SLRs. Turns out that the "deleted" (i.e., blank) images were always at the beginning of a roll of film... (because I was forgetting to remove the lens cap.     )

[bill t.]

Well, the crop completely loses the fact that the guy likes to peek at beach babes through the awesome looking binocs, which is the only thing in that image that is even remotely interesting.  Less information is not always better.  When cameras can automatically SELL my pictures, I'll be first in line.

[Isaac]

The marketing copy doesn't claim that the images will be interesting ;-)

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Ah, now I get it (and the sample verifies this): You get "artistic" and "creative" but not "interesting."

[louoates]

No, no, no! You've got to use the camera's preferences to get these auto features.
Bill, you obviously didn't check the "Commercially Salable" box.
And remember to un-check the "Camera Club Entry" box.

[bill t.]

No, no, no! You've got to use the camera's preferences to get these auto features.
Bill, you obviously didn't check the "Commercially Salable" box.
And remember to un-check the "Camera Club Entry" box.

Advanced computer skills are so important these days!

[Justan]

You didnt read the small print! Those options will be buy-up extras, in next year’s model. There will be more options the year after that. And by the year after that, most of the options will work okay. Except by then the camera will also have more mega pixels.

And then, the year after that, Nikon will buy the company and disappear the camera.

It’s bad for business if people can get good pictures every time.

[luxborealis]

Wow - finally I can shoot without thinking; I can shoot without looking! Fine art at the push of a button. Isn't technology just amazing?

[Isaac]

Wow - finally I can shoot without thinking; I can shoot without looking!

By your standards I must have been a true prodigy - I was taking photos without thinking decades ago. Indeed, some would say that I achieved the acme of mindless photo taking; but that's too immodest, there are many others who I must admit put even less thought into their photos.

As for not looking, that's a whole different discussion.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

In a workshop I took years ago with Minor White, he told us of an experiment he had tried in an earlier workshop. On a field trip, half of the workshop members were blindfolded and the others not. Each then turned around slowly a couple of times and was then handed a camera. Each picked a direction (the un-blindfolded ones tried for "interesting" shots) and took one picture.

Back at the lab, each processed his/her photo and made a print. The consensus was that the blindfold shots were more interesting than the carefully composed shots.

Ya can't win!

[bill t.]

If I ever give a workshop, I think I will make all the students do THIS exercise in Not Looking to sort of loosen them up.  Bring your brand new D800e's and best lenses.  This should encourage small, intimate class sizes.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I think I can find an old Instamatic around somewhere. Can I take your workshop, Bill?

[aduke]

Its not all that difficult. I was carrying the 7D on a wrist-strap when this fellow approached; lifted the camera a took the shot. The lens, a 10-22, had been focused at the hyperfocal distance for the aperture, f8.

Alan

[Fine_Art]

Sony continues the Japanese fascination with robots. Too many gimmick engineers, not enough lens engineers.

[Isaac]

Sony...

Perhaps they understand why people buy Sony cameras.